RFP - Conservation Detection Dogs to Locate Black Bear and Cougar Scat in Eastern Oregon

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) East Region Wildlife Research Office in La Grande has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP #S-63500-00004835) seeking a contractor to provide trained conservation detection dogs for locating black bear and cougar scat in eastern Oregon. The procurement is for a five-year contract with annual surveys to be conducted from May 1 through July 31, covering approximately 1,500 square kilometers in two study areas. Proposers must have a minimum of three years of successful experience providing comparable wildlife detection services, with dog handlers possessing at least three years of experience training wildlife detection dogs. The evaluation criteria include 50 points for General Qualifications, 35 points for Understanding of Requested Services, 15 points for References, and 40 points for Price Proposal, totaling a maximum of 420 points. The proposal was due by December 14, 2022, with award notification anticipated around December 21, 2022. Contractors are required to provide trained dogs, handlers, and all necessary equipment to complete scat collection surveys, including GPS tracking of survey routes and proper sample collection and transfer to ODFW staff.

The RFP encourages participation from small businesses certified by the Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID), with the potential requirement of submitting a Certified Disadvantaged Business Outreach Plan prior to contract execution. Rogue Detection Teams, LLC of Rice, Washington, emerged as the top-scoring vendor with 391.5 points, followed by Western Ecosystems Technology (WEST) with 380.5 points. The contract does not have specific set-aside designations but promotes inclusivity for diverse businesses. While the exact contract value is not explicitly stated, the pricing structure includes daily rates for trained dog-handler teams, vehicle mileage, and per diem costs. The funding for this project is contingent on ODFW receiving sufficient appropriations, and the total not-to-exceed amount will be determined upon final contract award. The procurement covers surveys in the Blue Mountains and south-central Oregon regions, with ODFW providing survey grid cells and statistical analysis support.